Kitchen renovations have become quite pricey in the past years, with costs depending on your location, project scope, and square footage. At the same time, the cost of skill and labour escalated, making it more difficult for homeowners to have the kitchen of their dreams.
Still, there are ways to save up some money and still beautify your kitchen. Luckily, with the help of the internet, you can find plenty of tips for updating it on a budget. You only need to be creative. Therefore, your task is to find inspiration and make a list of what you envision the new kitchen to look like.
Maybe you also need to declutter to free up space and rearrange the appliances or furniture so everything looks more put together. Still, let’s see what else you can do to achieve a new kitchen look.
Paint your cabinets
Cheap kitchens don’t have to look cheap ―which is why you can paint your cabinets in a luxurious colour with little expense and effort. If you’re into subtler shades, a soft white always does the trick, but deep blue is a fresh and calming option for the kitchen.
Besides painting your cabinets, make sure you use the right hardware, such as warmer finishes. For example, brushed gold hardware looks great with deeper colours, while polished chrome is perfect for lighter tones.
You don’t have the time to paint them yourself? There are a lot of sellers that offer painted cabinets for affordable prices. You can check Kitchen Warehouse LTD for example, and see what they have to offer.
Consider a kitchen rug
While a kitchen rug seems like an additional thing to clean, its visual impact is unmatched. Rugs add warmth to the room and absorb sound. Most kitchen rugs are stain-resistant, have non-slip features, and are washing machine-resistant, so don’t worry about maintenance.
Polypropylene and polyester are ideal materials for the kitchen rug, but natural fibres, like jute, are available if you prefer eco-friendly kitchen products. Still, be wary that natural materials might be more sensitive to moisture.
Add an island
If the kitchen is spacious enough, adding an island in the middle will provide more space for dining and prepping, along with storage space. While already-made islands can be expensive, you can approach a DIY project or look out for pre-build kitchen base cabinets.
The estimated costs for building it yourself should be between £600 and £1,200. Of course, the cost depends on the cabinet type, length and width, as well as your current or needed tools and materials. Butcher block countertops are great for such projects.
Incorporate natural elements
Adding some nature to the kitchen is an effortless way of brightening up the space. This step might even save you some expenses, as you can ask your friends for plants they consider donating. Moreover, growing your own is also affordable, so get some seeds and start planting.
While some plants are believed to be great for the kitchen due to their moisture-wicking properties (Peace Lily, Chinese Evergreen, the ZZ Plant), there are no limits to what you can grow. Most plants will thrive in humidity.
Try open shelving
If you have cute kitchenware, displaying it on open shelving is the best way to decorate the kitchen. To install additional shelves, you’ll need tools like a level, a stud finder, and a power drill to install the boards.
Still, open shelving is not for everyone, so you must keep it tidy to maximises its aesthetic effect. If it gets messy in time, it will only add to the visual clutter. Therefore, you either commit to keeping it neat or opt for closed shelving that hides all the mess.
Install laminate backsplash
The backsplash is important in the kitchen, both aesthetically and for practicality. Laminated products are a budget-friendly option, and you can find them in plenty of colours and forms for kitchen design.
Patterned tiles are eye-catching, but matching grout lines are also in trend. Gold accents, bead boards, or marble-like slabs can easily transform your kitchen. Moreover, installing a backsplash is easy, but you need just a little bit of patience.
Set in place more light fixtures
Light fixtures are the best way to update your kitchen, as they’re affordable and will make an amazing contribution. Some of the best include LED lights that you can install across the most used areas, such as above the sink or worktop.
If you’re interested in light ambience, you could try light layering, a technique in which the fixtures complement each other and can empathise with both practical spots and art in the kitchen. This way, your eyes won’t get tired of the “big light.”
Add window treatments
If you’ve got more windows across the kitchen, you could upgrade their looks with several treatments. The Roman shade is one of the most popular for this room, as it’s built for precise light control. Of course, you could install adjustable window blinds for a more modern look.
Fabric shades are also pretty popular, offering a natural and fresh vibe. Transparent shades are similar, providing enough transparency through the semi-transparent weave. If shades are not your style, you could look for some rustic wood shutters.
Keep it organised
A kitchen update starts and continues with continuous organisation. As soon as you finish remodelling the kitchen, it is ideal to set some rules for you and the family to maintain its appearance. For example, set a timer for ten to thirty minutes for a fast clean-up before bed.
Wiping down the countertops, washing all the dishes, and mopping should be a priority. In addition, everything you pick up from the shelves or counters should be put back in place to avoid mess. With enough practice, you’ll be able to ensure the kitchen is clean and organised at all times.
Are you ready to update your kitchen?
Kitchen updates are more affordable than entire renovations, and you can try out many DIY projects that are safe for beginners as well. For example, painting the countertops is affordable and takes little time, while adding more plants in the kitchen counts as décor. Layering your lighting is another way to change the vibe of the room, but you must remember that keeping the kitchen clean and organised is how you maintain the update for longer.
